Page 63 of Almost Ravaged (Men of Evercrisp Orchard #1)
Chapter fifty-four
Sawyer
T hey won!
The Holt University Lightning Bolts won their first game, four to one.
I’m still buzzing with adrenaline, my chest fuzzy and full of pride.
Atty and Ty were unstoppable tonight.
My brother was fierce, making a long-shot goal from center ice that I guarantee will be featured on sports news highlights this weekend.
Tytus was ferocious, disrupting play after play and wreaking absolute havoc on the Wasps’ offensive line. He didn’t score, but he created countless opportunities for his forwards and served his team well.
“Good night, Davvies!” Tony calls out, waving as he heads to the exit.
“Bye, Tony!” I call back. “See you next week.”
He assured me he had everything in the back tidied up, and he even offered to stay while I closed front of house. I insisted that wasn’t necessary. Especially since I’m not alone.
Mercer stayed back and is waiting for me .
I thought it was sweet at first. Chivalrous, even. Though as he’s followed me through the halls and around both rinks, his subtle touches growing increasingly brazen and his true intentions have become apparent.
He wants this night to continue.
Which is exactly what I want, too.
He stepped away a few moments ago, before Tony came into the lobby to say bye, but suddenly, he’s back, capturing me around the waist and bringing my back to his chest.
“You have to let me finish.” I giggle.
“Oh, you’ll finish,” he grits out, his lips at my ear. “I promise to make you finish over and over again.”
The vow makes my insides turn liquid. I’m game for whatever he has in mind. The warmth between my thighs only adds to the urgency. I want to close up and get out of here as quickly as possible so we can get on with our night.
“Five minutes,” I beg, spinning out of his arms. “I just have to check both locker rooms and log a few items in the lost and found.”
He hits me with a shrewd glare and pulls out his phone. He taps the screen a few times, then holds it out for me to see. “Timer’s set. You have four minutes and fifty seconds left, Ms. Davvies. You better get to work.”
I turn on my heel and hustle toward the visitors’ locker room.
On my way, I pull out my own device and send a message to my brother and Ty.
Me: AMAZING game tonight!! Closing is taking longer than expected, so I won’t make it out to Mae’s to celebrate. Breakfast tomorrow?
I make quick work of checking the locker room, and once I confirm it’s clear, I secure the doors.
Atty replies, requesting a late breakfast since tomorrow is the one day he and Ty can sleep in. Works for me, considering I’m expecting to have a late night, too.
I send a quick confirmation, then stash my phone and dart to the home team’s locker room.
It doesn’t smell that bad, all things considered.
All the sweaty gear has been removed by laundry services.
The air is still thick, but that’ll clear out overnight and then diminish completely when the janitorial staff comes in early tomorrow morning.
I haven’t been in here by myself before, so I take a moment to look around, searching for numbers three and seven.
When I find them side by side, I smile.
It truly feels like we made it. Like things are looking up for all three of us.
I’m checking under the benches when the lights go out.
I yelp, panic bubbling up at the prospect of being alone in the dark. But then I hear it.
The tinkling of an alarm. Footsteps approaching.
Growing louder.
Louder.
Louder still.
My heart pummels my ribcage, my breathing suddenly rapid.
I stand up straight and take two steps forward, only to slam into a solid, unmoving mass.
“Time’s up, Ms. Davvies. Ready or not, I want to come.”